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Adam, I agree on the rhythm section on that second BYG Moncur - I never heard of them either, yet their underpinning makes it a lovely session, the only BYG I would use that description for.

Eric, you're absolutely right about those, and I can tell you what the secret to the success of many of those sessions was - writing and arranging by Teddy Charles and/or Mal Waldron, who were very skilled at organizing a session as well as gifted players.

Well, the phrases floating around in the last few posts which I was/am refuting include "I think that it's a myth these days that Japanese CDs are expensive","they are not expensive at all", "There are many CD reissues priced at 1500 yen for example, and even if they have a higher price of say 2345 yen, that's fully comparable with many domestic CDs", and "final cost per disc including shipping is around 20 Euro, which is half the price many european stores are asking for the same discs". Well, that represents about a 100-150% cost increase over the domestic reissues we've been buying in the US for almost 20 years now, which doesn't synch up with the statements being made about buying them in Europe. If it's gonna cost me 2-2.5 times as much to buy the same number of discs, that's a drastic price increase, and why should I consider that "very reasonable" and "not expensive at all"? and it's sure not "fully comparable with many domestic CDs", yet those are the phrases being used here in these posts. And how do the statements "fully comparable with many domestic CDs" and "Obviously, an import is more expensive than a domestic reissue" fit together to describe the same Japanese CD's, and yet both those statements are being made here to me.

Moncur is about to turn 70. Can't go on at the highest level forever. I liked his work on the 'Lee Morgan' Blue Note album in the early 70's.

I'm a little mystified to see the classic Blue Notes, classic period Trane, and choice Mosaic sets in this thread. Really exceeded expectations? Seems like a case of grossly suppressed expections to me. Why wouldn't you already expect those to be wonderful? When I read through, I was hoping for a lot more surprises that I should consider checking out. I'll share one - The Grachan Moncur stuff on BYG Actuel is wonderful, and much more accessible than the vast majority of material on that label. Available as a twofer CD which is well worth checking out.

Same here. I usually order 3-4 CDs at a time, and the final cost per disc including shipping (no customs taxes) is around 20 Euro, which is half the price many european stores are asking for the same discs. Different market conditions in the US, where CD reissues were going for $8 to $10 each for the past 15-18 years, so the 20 euro average cost represents more than double the past normal going price.

Adamski, What did you like him in? Automatic Man was terrible, IMHO. If memory serves me, he may have done an album or two on Prestige which were OK, but that's fuzzy now.

Bought the new John Mellencamp at Best Buy on the way home from work. $9.99, includes a free exclusive Best Buy bonus CD with four alternate takes, and I had a gift card I could use. I love the song on the truck commercial, and AMG gave the CD an awesome review. He's been a favorite since 'Scarecrow', a Desert Island Disc (rock/pop category) for me.

Tyner Mosaic Select, CD1, cut 4 "Peresina" on the headphones right this moment.

Granted I haven't heard it in 30 years, but I always considered Head On a huge disappointment, largely given over to Todd Cochran annoyances. I really liked "Mtume" from it, but had no use for the other three cuts. Might sound different to me now with distance, though. It also doesn't fit in chronologically with the Select. It's from '71, Select is '74-'77. they could do another Select with Head On, Montreux, Total Eclipse, San Francisco, and Now, or something like that.

I love Proper Boxes. I find the sound to be quite good if the source material has good sound and quite acceptable in all cases, and I don't need every alternate take or vocal performance of a big band.

My Hutch Select came in the mail today, along with the Tyner Select and the Lloyd and Blakey singles. It will be a happy listening day at work tomorrow!

For the friend or relative you want to introduce to jazz, Universal has put out a 2CD set entitled John Coltrane - Gold, and has done an amazing job in the track selection. In addition, those sets have crisp remastering, nice notes, and a very low price. Would make a nice gift for someone, or good set to play when company is around. http://www.yourmusic.com/browse/album/John...name=BROWSE_NEW

Yup! No... I think '65 is my favorite. Guy I'll take '64, short on quantity but long on classic quality ('Crescent', 'A Love Supreme'). Bol should start with 'Crescent' and 'Live at Birdland'. From '65, I LOVE 'Transition', which I think is the most overlooked Trane album of all. How did it ever get left in the can for several years? (rhetoricl question, I know there was a glut of material recorded in '65 and they wanted to publically document his new phase).

I went for "Song...' just ahead of 'Cape...', but both belong in any jazz collection. Why would you get 'Sense of Humor' and the best of's ahead of these! And after you get these two, go back and get the other 60's dates. Sell off some of your other CD's, and the three Silver's you already have, to pay for them if need be. You own none of his classic albums, and vow to only buy one of them this year, and call yourself a jazz fan? Kids these days....

Don't forget their Monk recording, 'Pastel Corners'.

They are really good. Harper plays his butt off on "Angel Eyes", the whole group smokes throughout. That was from the period when Blakey couldn't get a record deal, and I'm awfully glad someone taped these dates. If you are into the Jazz Messengers (and I have more recordings by them than by anybody, even Miles and Trane), these are essential dates. I can't imagine someone picking them up and being sorry. The other Messengers recordings that fit into the same category (grey market but great) is the Live at Bubba's stuff with the Watson/Marsalis version of the Messengers.

Only if you believe "W" ! Welcome Take your choice! http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...te=rare+grooves

Nice to see Ron and Alan again and meet Chalupa (Kirby) and the band. Organissimo played a nice first set and then caught fire in the second set. Highlights for me were all from the second set, and I will need help from the faithful on the titles of the first two: The song which M.Brecker/Metheny/Elvin did, the Bill Heid piece, "Tenderly", and "Jimmy Smith Goes to Washington". The last one was a fitting tribute to Smith, and to Philly, the B-3 capitol of the world, the city that brought you three monster of the instrument: Jimmy Smith, Charles Earland, Joey DeFrancesco, and others (like Trudy Pitts, Shirley Scott, etc.). Jim especially was on fire on some of these second set gems. His solo on "Jimmy Smith..." was jaw-dropping. The whole group burned when they were at their best. Wonderful evening.

Wow. Just like Blue Note. Whatya mean? They have Norah Jones, Suzanne Vega, and all your other favorite jazz artists!

Yes! Guy Agreed. Made my list of 10 best Blue Notes ever, and she was vital to it's greatness. She also adds much to Joe Henderson - The Elements, and of the sessions she led I recommend 'A Monastic Trio', "Ptah The El Dauoud', 'Journey in Satchidananda', and to a lesser extent 'Transfiguration'. 'Huntington Ashran Monastery' is nice, but will set you back $30 or more for the CD, and you will get the idea from the other sets noted here. I don't particularly like her orchestrated sets, much prefer her smaller group works. In addition to her vision and composing, she was an excellent PLAYER on both piano and harp. I haven't heard 'Translinear Light' yet, it also sounds like a good one.

I like the Byrd/Gryce Jazz Workshop series on Lone Hill. Also, the Definitive packaging of the Chet Baker material makes a whole lot more sense than what EMI has done with it. EMI has not served us well recently on how they stretch that Baker Pacific Jazz material into as many CD's as they possible can, 20 minutes of music plus alternate versions. I will admit that the sound quality on the recent EMI Baker issues was stunning compared with what has been out there in the past. Proper does an amazing job in putting out intelligent sets - so many of them are the ultimate word in a given period for a given artist.

Disagree totally. That set is master takes only of Blue Note and Bethlehem cuts, which is totally different than any other set that's been out on Nichols, which are the complete Blue Note with alternate takes, and the single Bethlehem album.

And why this one, which was a collection of outtakes (good as some of them are) when originally issued, instead of 'For Losers' or 'Things Have Got To Change'?

Beautiful stuff. Thanks so much for sharing this.